Finishing well : encouraging Cuban pastors to persevere under persecution /
by D. Kurt Nelson.
- 2008.
- xiv, 217 leaves ; 28 cm
Typescript. "March, 2008."
Chapter 1: -- RESEARCH PROBLEM Introduction -- Statement of the problem -- Discipline which inform or shape the research Pastoral calling, Persecution is normal, Suffering is normal, Perseverance is anticipated -- Purpose of the study -- Research and operational questions Research question, Operational questions -- Delimitations of the problem -- Assumptions Theological assumptions, Pragmatic assumptions -- Definition of terms and understanding of concepts -- Limitations of the study -- Importance of the study for personal ministry. Chapter 2 -- PRECEDENT LITERATURE A New Testament theology of persecution and Christian response General perspective on Christian persecution, Responses to persecution, Strategies and perspectives motivating perseverance through persecution -- Using and meaning of terms Persecution and related terminology, Martyr and confessor, Christian -- Who are the persecutors? -- When and by whom were the historic persecutions? -- The goals of the persecutors: why are Christians persecuted? Early perceptions of religious heresies, atheism, and vices, Christians versus Christians: the purity of the church, Perceived threats to political power, nationalism and ideological unity, Worldwide religious radicalism: the extermination of Christianity, "Striking God": spiritual motivations of the persecutors -- Tactics of the persecutors, Leaders targeted -- Victorious church: the impact of persecution over two millennia, Negative impact, Positive impact -- Perspectives on persecution, a biblical perspective -- Appropriate responses by the persecuted -- Inappropriate responses by the persecuted -- Advocacy and support for the persecuted, Motivation for involvement: unity and identification, Goal of involvement, Appropriate means of involvement -- Preparing for persecution -- Early Christianity in Cuba, Protestant persecution by the Catholic Church -- Cuba Between Spain and Castro -- Cuba: communism's grand entrance, The Catholic Church's ironic contribution to the rise of communism, Cuban Catholicism versus communism -- Response: the communist backlash -- 1960-1965: Protestant persecutions begins, 1959: early positive expectations, 1960-1963: The beginning of Protestant repression, 1964-1965: Protestant persecution ignites, Sects- special cases of persecution -- Summary of early Cuban persecution -- Cuba's communist system of religious persecutions, The philosophical approach of the Chinese, Totalitarian control structures, Elimination of religious leadership, Limitation of church resources, Indoctrination of the masses, Discrimination -- Results and revival: 1989-1999, 1989- a valley of dry bones, 1989-1999: revival and church planting movement -- Twenty-first century Cuba: repression and revival continue -- Response: a crown of beauty, the oil of gladness, Maturity and strength, Love and joy, Humility, purity, and generosity -- Advocacy and support of the church in Cuba. CHAPTER 3 -- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Research strategy -- Collection of data -- Population -- Sampling -- Instrumentation -- Validation of the instrument -- Plan for analysis and interpretation of data -- Plan for presenting findings. Chapter 4: -- ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS Operational question one: personal experience of persecution -- Operational question two: perceived source, agencies and motivations of persecution -- Operational question three: personal impact of persecution -- Operational question four: personal response to persecution -- Operational question five- factors enabling perseverance: personal operating principles -- Operational question six- factors enabling perseverance: practical support systems present -- Operational question seven- factors enabling perseverance: practical support systems absent -- Operational question eight- factors enabling perseverance: practical support requested -- Validation of findings -- Validation of operational question one: extent -- Validation of operational question two -- Validation of operational question three -- Validation of operational question four -- Validation of operational question five. Chapter 5 -- CONCLUSIONS Applicability of precedent literature, sources, causes, motivations, tactics, impact, responses, support strategies -- Conclusions from findings, motivations to persevere, support systems enabling perseverance -- Preparing leaders for persecution -- Recommendations for further research, operational hypothesis. APPENDIX
The purpose of the study is to discover the factors that enabled Cuban pastors to successfully persevere under persecution and to fulfill their calling as pastors in Cuba so that these principles may be applied to persecuted Christians worldwide.
Columbia International University--Dissertations.
Persecution--Cuba. Suffering--Religions aspects--Christianity. Church and state--Cuba.